Yonsei Med J.  2003 Aug;44(4):571-578. 10.3349/ymj.2003.44.4.571.

Korean Nationwide Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance in 2000 with Special Reference to Vancomycin Resistance in Enterococci, and Expanded-Spectrum Cephalosporin and Imipenem Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacilli

• Lee K
• Kim MY
• Kang SH
• Kang JO
• Kim EC
• Choi TY
• Chong YS
• Korean Nationwide Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance Group

• KMID: 720894
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2003.44.4.571

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance surveillance is necessary to determine the size of the problem and to guide empirical selection of antimicrobial agents for treating infected patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of susceptibility tests performed by hospitals participating in the Korean Nationwide Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (KONSAR) program. The rates of oxacillin-resistant staphylococci, penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococci, and ampicillin-resistant E. faecium were over 70%. Ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae increased to 68%. Expanded-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant K. pneumoniae, fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli, and imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa remained at 16% through 27%, depending on the species. The proportions of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium and imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa were 18 - 24% and 19-21%, respectively, indicating the seriousness of antimicrobial resistance. In conclusion, the increasing prevalence of resistant bacteria indicates that more concerted effort is required to conserve the usefulness of precious new antimicrobial agents.

Keyword

Antimicrobial resistance; Korean resistance surveillance; pathogenic bacteria

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology
Cephalosporins/*pharmacology
*Drug Resistance, Microbial
Enterococcus/*drug effects
Gram-Negative Bacteria/*drug effects
Human
Imipenem/*pharmacology
Korea
*Vancomycin Resistance